Although artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the hottest topics in 2023, with countless new developments, many people do not fully understand what AI is, its possible benefits and potential dangers. . Azusa Pacific University Scientific research center (CRIS) recently organized a conference titled “Human Flourishment in the Age of AI”, bringing together experts from various fields. “We hope attendees came away from the symposium with a deeper understanding and less fear of AI’s impact on society through actively engaged discussions about how to harness its potential for human flourishing.” , said Louise Ko Huang, PhD, Director of CRIS. “It was refreshing to hear different points of view without arguments. Everyone listened and took the time to understand points of view different from theirs.
The conference featured keynote speaker Sherol Chen, PhD, a computer scientist who studied AI and worked for a major tech company for more than a decade. Chen described the history of AI and how this field has evolved over the years. Among the many misconceptions about AI, Chen noted that most people don’t realize that AI has been around since the 1950s and how much research has gone into it. She said there are countless articles and reports readily available and many people aim to teach and explain AI to make understanding it less daunting. “There’s a lot of noise outside,” she said. “I believe that as we increase our understanding, our faith grows, which enables us to receive even more wisdom to filter out distractions, as we see in James 1:5.”
From a Christian perspective on building AI, Chen referenced Romans 8:19, describing how we are called to create. “With all things, we must create with hope and humility. What we create and how we do it is our responsibility,” she said. “It also means understanding the tools we use and the impact our creations have on our neighbors.” While many people worry about how AI could be used for evil purposes, Chen believes that AI can and should be used for good.
“We must trust that God will give us the wisdom to use technology appropriately. »
After Chen’s speech, participants took part in a four-corner activity, moving to the corners of the room labeled agree, disagree, strongly agree, and strongly disagree, based on questions posed by Huang. Questions included:
- Are there ethical standards that should be applied to AI?
- Can humans claim credit for the authorship of AI?
- Can AI influence ministry and how people view God?
- Can AI destroy humanity? While almost everyone was in firm agreement that ethical standards should be applied to AI, the other three questions divided the audience fairly evenly. The thought-provoking questions allowed attendees to chat while they lunched before hearing from a panel of APU faculty and staff.
The panel showed Mihretu GutaPhD, professor of philosophy, Mike TruongPhD, Director of Digital Learning and University Success, Alex Yu, PhD, Director of Data Analysis, and Karen Lang, PhD, Lead Writing Program Instructor. Responding to the same questions previously posed to participants, the panel all agreed that the ethical framework was crucial in the development of AI. However, claiming credit for AI authorship with tools like ChatGPT split the panel. Yu said using it was just one tool among many to complete a project, but Lang strongly disagreed.
“We don’t want to create better newspapers. We want to create better writers. We still need to teach thinking, not shortcuts,” Lang said. “Have something to say for yourself; don’t let a machine say it for you. I want to know what you think.
Mihretu shared similar sentiments, describing ChatGPT as a mental crutch that teaches people to be addicted and not to think for themselves. “You can’t use a crutch forever,” he said. “What you get with AI is an artificially learned person. They don’t really know a subject. All agreed that AI could potentially benefit the ministry in different ways and that AI cannot destroy humanity since only humans can. As each panel member shared their closing remarks, the consensus was clear, as Yu summarizes. “AI is here to stay,” he said. “We should embrace it and find how we can use it beneficially. »
After the interdisciplinary panel, the participants delved into the subject of AI in table discussions by discipline. Disciplines represented included the humanities, health care, business, education, ministry, social work and social sciences, natural sciences, and philosophy. One student table was led by IT and honored Nicolas Chera ’18, a former humanities student, while the other tables were led by APU professors from several colleges and schools, including Rebecca HarrisMS, Monica Ganasdoctorate, Valerie Joy SmithPhD, RN, MSN, CCRN, LaShan Eppersondatabase administrator, Kaitlyn Fizgeralddoctorate, Elijah Rothdoctorate and Enson Changdoctorate.
The conference ended with a speech by alumnus Finney Premkumar ’97, founder and director of Truth Matters International, a Christian apologetic ministry. Premkumar made three points: that we should appreciate AI and the many ways it already benefits us, that we should be concerned about AI in terms of respecting its potential when misused, and that we should explore the applications of AI in different disciplines, using AI as a means to an end. Premkumar also talked about the different levels of AI, from basic (machine learning) to advanced (artificial intelligence) and AI superintelligence (machine awareness). Premkumar postulated that AI as we know it could never reach the point of consciousness. “God created humans. Humans created AI,” he said. “And the image of God in humans is not transferable.”
This conference has been made possible by generous funding from the John Templeton Foundation through the Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford Supporting Structures grant. Huang shared his excitement that CRIS could organize these kinds of symposia at least once a year for the community. “For centuries, the academy has been known as the ivory tower. In these rapidly changing times, can the academy be redesigned to become a community of learners willing and able to share their resources with the community at large? she asked. “My aspiration is that APU can be that place to offer intellectual and civic progress rooted in Christian faith and the sovereignty of God.”
Posted: July 26, 2023